The ever-popular Welsh Antiques Fair and Vintage Market to be held at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8, will again be playing host to some amazing collections.

Set in the heart of the picturesque and historic Carmarthenshire countryside and yet minutes away from the M4 corridor, lies the impressive National Botanic Garden of Wales. It’s a hidden gem, just as are the array of antiques that are on display at the Antiques Fair and Vintage Market, held at the garden. Visitors are impressed at the variety of antiques on offer at this unique and amazing setting. It’s appeal is in the fact that visitors can also wander around the gardens at leisure.

With up to 100 stands on display, the fair has become quite a spectacle. Showcasing a wonderful variety of quality antiques and collectables to suit all tastes and budgets, these popular fairs have a friendly and vibrant atmosphere. The weekend of antiques is set to be a busy one.

Demand is high, so fans of collectibles, curios and classic antiques should make their way to the various Botanic Garden venues - including the Lord Foster-designed Great Glasshouse - for displays of Welsh art and pottery, quality jewellery and an outstanding glass display of rare paper weights, plus rare collections of coins will feature at the fair for the first time.

Richard Bebb will be including some Kyffin Williams paintings and prints amongst his collection of Welsh art. It is the centenary of Kyffin’s birth and interest in his work has been heightened.

There will of course be an abundance of Welsh pottery ranging from Swansea, Glamorgan, Llanelli and the increasingly popular Ewenny.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales’ fair has a reputation for discovering rare items to whet people’s appetites. From rare maps to rare paintings, these have all been found at this fair.

A rare American cast Monkey Bank money box will be on show at the fair. Although today most people deposit their savings in banks, most have a money box tucked away at home, in some shape or form. The content of money boxes is real ‘treasure’, especially for small children who can gain an understanding of saving in this way.

However, the origin of saving coins dates back in the distant past. This rare cast metal money box on display dates back to the last century. These mechanical money boxes were intended for advertising purposes and originated in the USA. Movement of a small lever pushed the coin to the right place. They came in all shapes. The one on display depicts a cheeky monkey depositing a coin in the shoe shiner’s box. This type of money box was very popular with Victorian children and are now highly sought after.

The fair opens at 10 am and closes at 4.30 pm.

Admission to the garden and for the antiques weekend is just £5. Entry is free for garden members and parking is free for all. Dogs are now also welcome at the fair.

* For more information about the fairs, contact Brita Rogers, telephone: 01267 220260, mobile 07790 293367 or visit www.derwenantiques.co.uk.